wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] edcnyc from queens March 24, 2008 - 10:51AM

  A friend of mine was the fall guy for a robbery and eventually commited suicide at Rikers after being sexually abused there (he was 21). Another friend was just released after 7 years for selling ecstasy. Now he's a self-employed metal scraper. He drives around the city in his truck collecting scrap metal to sell. He mentions his back is killing him, but feels he has little choice. Talk about "in need of reform."

  
  
• [2] Dave from Manhattan March 24, 2008 - 01:01PM

  Speaking as a returning student (John Jay) working toward NYS's credential in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling (CASAC), I can confirm that everything I have learned supports Fortune's recognition that safe housing is an absolute prerequisite to building recovery. Ex-offenders, like addicts in general, don't shrug off one set of defenses like an old coat and comfortably wrap themselves in an unfamiliar new creed.

  They learn one day at a time, given a safe space and peer mentoring (plus all the other support services, e.g., Medicaid, any dis abled person needs to become "able" again, or for the first time.

  
  
• [3] Debra Maniscalco from Garfield, NJ March 24, 2008 - 01:03PM

  I missed most of your program re:The Fortune Society and am interested if this society is set up to help people who have been in and out of rehab numerous times and only VERY lUCKY not to end up in jail yet but most certainly on thier way

  Thank you